American Society of Hirudotherapy

Haemadipsa yanyuanensis Bdellin Expansion

Lineage-specific 8.7-25-fold expansion of bdellin protease-inhibitor gene family in H. yanyuanensis genome (Lin 2025) — candidate driver of terrestrial-blood-feeding adaptation.

Preclinical / mechanisticLast updated: 2026-05-27 · Reviewed by ASH Editorial Board

Mechanistic Evidence Box

Preclinical / mechanistic
Page type
Compound profile
Evidence type
Lineage-specific 8.7-25-fold expansion of bdellin protease-inhibitor gene family in H. yanyuanensis genome (Lin 2025) — candidate driver of terrestrial-blood-feeding adaptation.
Evidence level
Mechanistic discussion
Drug vs leech
Purified natural compound

Clinical translation limit

This gene-family expansion is identified at the genome / transcriptome level only. Functional activity has not been demonstrated for the individual paralogs. No FDA-approved derivative exists; H. yanyuanensis is not the FDA-cleared K040187 medicinal leech species.

Molecular Profile

Category
Proteinase Inhibitor
Evidence tier
Preclinical
Source species
Haemadipsa yanyuanensis
Discovered
2025 · Lin Y et al.
Haemadipsa yanyuanensis Bdellin Expansion molecular structure

Biological Targets

  • serine proteases (trypsin, plasmin) — predicted by bdellin homology

Key Citations

  1. Lin Y et al. (2025), BMC Genomics · PMID 41469844

External Resources

    Related Proteinase Inhibitor Compounds

    This website provides educational information and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Medicinal leech therapy carries clinically meaningful risks and should be performed only by qualified clinicians under institutionally approved protocols. FDA 510(k) clearance for medicinal leeches is limited to specific indications; investigational and off-label discussions are labeled accordingly. For patient-specific guidance, consult a qualified healthcare provider.